In fact, the final 29 minutes, 30 seconds were played to a draw after Simeon scored the game's first nine points.

"I truly believed we were going to win," said Berman, who had 10 points and nine assists. "We are a classic New Trier team — underrated all season. They're basketball players, not gods. We knew we could play with them."

Berman, a 6-foot guard headed to Amherst, engineered New Trier's first comeback without making a shot.

The Trevians made eight straight shots during a first-quarter frenzy — five of them 3-pointers and six assisted by Berman.

When Simeon threatened to pull away again in the second half, New Trier's all-time leader in assists became a scorer.

Berman was scoreless before his 3 without the benefit of the backboard cut Simeon's lead to 52-43 with 6 minutes, 22 seconds to play. He then capped an 8-0 run with a three-point play that brought the Trevians within 52-48 with 5:28 showing.

The deficit was still only five with 2:26 left before Simeon pulled away.

"Reid Berman was unbelievable," New Trier coach Scott Fricke said. "That was the exact scenario we hoped for — down three or four with three or four minutes to play.

"I couldn't be prouder of this team. They will go down as one of the best teams in New Trier history."

A Justice Department investigation will allege sweeping patterns of discrimination within the Ferguson, Mo., Police Department and at the municipal jail and court, a law enforcement official familiar with the report said Tuesday.